Lin Shijin hadn’t even reacted when he was suddenly lifted. His fingertips could only cling to Sheng Rufei for support, his hair cascading down his back. Leaning against the wall, all his weight rested on Sheng Rufei.
A sharp pain shot through his lips, making them even redder. His eyes, reflecting Sheng Rufei’s image, gradually misted over. His fingertips touched Sheng Rufei’s silver hair, slowly wrapping around it, almost instinctively.
Like a dodder flower, he clung to Sheng Rufei. His breath was stolen, his lips and teeth filled with the scent of fallen plum blossoms, and his slender white fingertips tensed slightly.
The youth before him breathed unevenly. He wasn’t much better off. His neck arched back in a soft curve, a hint of avoidance in his gaze, his eyelashes trembling.
“Shixiong…”
Lin Shijin’s face flushed. When Sheng Rufei released him, he was still somewhat dazed, leaning against Sheng Rufei’s chest, his body limp and powerless.
His fingertips were held, and Sheng Rufei touched the corner of his lips. There was a cut on his lip, and it hurt at the touch. He couldn’t bring himself to scold Sheng Rufei, afraid his voice would betray him.
Sheng Rufei produced an exquisite mask, adorned with brocade flowers, and personally fastened it onto him. Half his face was covered once it was secured.
The warm touch on his cheek made Lin Shijin feel slightly uncomfortable. He softly tugged at Sheng Rufei’s sleeve, feeling unusually clingy. He was led downstairs by Sheng Rufei, obediently following behind him.
Only a few disciples were on the first floor. Most had gone out to watch the fireworks, while some remained in their rooms.
The streets bustled with people. Both wearing masks, Sheng Rufei led him carefully through the crowd.
The fireworks flickered, accompanied by cheerful zither music. The melodies were lively and varied, and the air was filled with the laughter of disciples and the calls of street vendors.
Many disciples held small fireworks, resembling those he had seen in his own world. He glanced at them repeatedly. Sheng Rufei noticed and bought some.
The small fireworks were long and thin, with a wire at the top. Pulling out the wire would ignite them, and they could burn in different shapes depending on the user’s spiritual energy.
Sheng Rufei bought him a bunch, but he couldn’t hold them all. He stuffed part into Sheng Rufei’s arms and asked, “Shixiong, do you control these with spiritual energy?”
He didn’t know how to use them. Although he understood the theory, he had never practised.
“Light one and let me see.”
Sheng Rufei lit one. The filament removed, the firework burst into light, initially diffused but gradually forming a plump rabbit mid-air.
The chubby rabbit was stroking its tail.
Lin Shijin’s eyes lit up with delight. He liked rabbits and found this fascinating. He wanted nothing more than to perch on Sheng Rufei’s arm to watch. “Shixiong, you’re amazing! How did you make this? Can you only make rabbits? Can you make other shapes?”
Sheng Rufei lit another. This time, a cylindrical object ignited, long and thick.
Lin Shijin pointed and asked, “What is this? Wood?”
Sheng Rufei hummed. The two fireworks were placed together, and the rabbit nestled on the wooden shape, finding a comfortable position.
Lin Fuheng: “?”
Lin Shijin also lit two fireworks, but his rabbits weren’t as cute as Sheng Rufei’s. Looking around, he saw some skilled disciples could manipulate their firecracker rabbits with spiritual energy, making them run through the air.
After finishing, he turned to other curiosities. There were more than fireworks—many novel trinkets. He wanted to see everything, so he pulled Sheng Rufei along.
Soon his gaze fell on a disciple not far away. That disciple had woven a bouquet from firecrackers.
Both still masked, Lin Shijin held a handful of fireworks. Their bright flames illuminated half his face, making the jewel decorations on his mask shimmer. Even the corners of his eyes seemed to sparkle.
“Shixiong, look.”
He shaped the fireworks into a bouquet. The flames bloomed brilliantly. Across from him, a male disciple was using this to win over a female disciple.
He imitated him, shaping his spiritual energy into a floral cluster in gold and red, like intertwined golden threads. A smile shone in his eyes as he presented it to Sheng Rufei.
Lin Shijin barely noticed that the spiritual energy in his hands had intertwined, subtly controlling the flow. All the energy interwove in a complex, yet orderly pattern.
Lin Fuheng: “…”
He usually didn’t cultivate seriously, always focused on pleasing others. Controlling subtle spiritual energy like this wasn’t easy and required repeated practice. He had spent over twenty attempts teaching a youth to pick a lock. Now he’d learned without instruction.
Lin Shijin was still jubilant when his ear was tugged. Expecting praise, he touched his ear, ignored Fuheng, and presented all the fireworks to Sheng Rufei.
“Shixiong, isn’t it beautiful?”
Sheng Rufei lowered his eyes. The fireworks reflected in them, adding brightness. His dark eyes flickered slightly, and he hummed in response, lips twitching.
“Beautiful.”
More beautiful than the fireworks was the young man before him.
He wore a silver-white mask with intricate carvings. Beneath it, his eyes curved gently, his brows carrying a soft, bright smile. When he smiled, it was three times more radiant than the brocade flowers adorning his mask.
The flames burned, fading gradually until only ashes fell to the ground.
Lin Shijin turned, holding Sheng Rufei’s hand. In the distance, a firework on a boat stage formed a sword immortal’s image in mid-air. Sparks gathered, illuminating half the sky before falling into the cold lake.
“Shixiong, why do you think the city lord prepared these for us?”
“Is this a rule in Buye City? Do all disciples going to Wuxiang Mountain receive them?”
Lin Shijin noticed a vendor selling puppet materials. He knew Sheng Rufei liked these, especially materials for making puppets and barriers, which often required searching in underground markets.
He led Sheng Rufei over, who easily kept pace. Observing the huge fireworks, Lin Shijin asked, “I’ve never seen this before. Why is it like this this year?”
“Oh,” he said casually, curiosity in his tone. He had promised to help Sheng Rufei make puppets when they returned. They reached the stall, tucked away in a hidden part of the main street, easy to miss if not looking carefully.
“Shixiong, want to see? You can watch the fireworks with me, and tonight I can help you make puppets.”
Sheng Rufei treated him well, and he would reciprocate. Mutual kindness was natural, and promises should be kept.
He led him by the hand. Blockhead didn’t respond, but he and Nan Feng quickened their pace behind them, clearly wanting to see.
The merchant was a sect disciple. His illusion technique was clumsy; the fake skin was wrinkled, and his stubble poorly applied.
“Young masters, see if there’s anything you like. This is a new batch. There’s no better material in the Three Thousand Worlds.”
“Suitable for binding formations, forged silk, gilded bronze. Sword buckles, puppets, sword sheaths, and materialisation talismans can all be made.”
Sheng Rufei inspected the materials, asking questions. The merchant, idling, glanced around. The materials seemed unrelated and unusual: eyeballs of demonic beasts, fire-quenched stones from frozen lands, demon bone oil, silver ginseng skin roasted over everlasting flames.
Finally, his gaze fell on a translucent glass bead in the far corner. Not light-coloured, it appeared to be glass.
The bead was black with hints of dark brown, containing fine white sand-like impurities, resembling a bottomless pool.
He noticed it because it reminded him of Sheng Rufei’s eyes.
People passed around them, but he ignored them, his gaze fixed on the bead. Just as he touched it, another hand arrived, resting on the same bead.
A familiar voice asked, “How much for this?”
Lin Shijin looked up, meeting Mo Yan’s eyes.
Before he could speak, the vendor hesitated. “There’s only one glass bead. It’s a demon eye modelled after a ninth-tier beast. The price isn’t high…”
He had noticed both were interested, leaving them to decide.
Lin Shijin wanted it, having reached it first, but was slow to react. Others had already asked. He tugged at Sheng Rufei’s sleeve.
Mo Yan, recognising him, frowned slightly. “I can pay double.”
Lin Shijin, clumsy with words, tugged Sheng Rufei’s sleeve again. “Shixiong, I want it.”
He meant Sheng Rufei should buy it.
Sheng Rufei glanced at the bead, understanding the youth’s intent. Calmly to the vendor, he said, “I’ll offer three times the price.”
“This isn’t about money…” The vendor recognised them from their robes as Fu Guang and Luo Xiao disciples, from prestigious sects. He didn’t want to offend either. “Perhaps discuss it further.”
Mo Yan’s gaze lingered on Sheng Rufei, then shifted to the youth pulling on him. The youth was clearly taking advantage of his position, self-righteous.
“I can pay higher. I’ve searched many places but haven’t found a suitable demon eye.”
He wasn’t willing to yield.
Lin Shijin didn’t need it but didn’t want Mo Yan to have it. Mo Yan had sought Sheng Rufei’s company earlier, and Lin Shijin felt entitled.
Buying should be first-come, first-served.
He also realised Mo Yan shared Sheng Rufei’s interests. The bead was clearly for puppet-making.
His mind wandered. The bead resembled Sheng Rufei’s eyes. Could the puppet have been made in Sheng Rufei’s style too?
The thought made him uneasy. He didn’t want Mo Yan to get it.
“Shixiong,” Lin Shijin called softly, tugging Sheng Rufei, lips pursed in displeasure, hoping Sheng Rufei would indulge him.
Sheng Rufei looked at him, grasped his fingertips, then addressed Mo Yan with a cold tone. “My shidi saw it first.”
Mo Yan had assumed Fu Guang’s top disciple wouldn’t let him look down on him. He glanced at the indulgent youth in front of him, deceived by appearances, then realised it was inconsequential.
His gaze lingered for a moment on the coquettish youth.
The dodder vine, unable to withstand storms, only knew how to seduce men. It probably wouldn’t survive two days in the Wuxiang Mountain trials.
